𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐳𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

…𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏

By Lhendup Wangmo

The Sangshingzor Vegetable Group in Phuntshothang Gewog has successfully expanded its production of fresh vegetables after securing a stable market to supply schools. One year after submitting their proposal, the group now supplies six schools in Samdrup Choling Drungkhag with organic produce. The agriculture sector also supported the group with a greenhouse, enabling them to grow their crops more efficiently. Today, the group is cultivating three acres of land and plans to expand further to meet growing demand.

Jamyang Gyeltshen, Gup of Phuntshothang Gewog, highlighted the hard work and resilience of the Sangshingzor Vegetable Group, despite challenges in the marketplace. He emphasized, “While the market conditions are not ideal, the group continues to produce and work hard to make progress.” He particularly acknowledged the dedication of vegetable vendor Sherab Dorji, who is collaborating with the group and playing a crucial role in their success.

Though the group has received support from NGOs, Jamyang Gyeltshen said that it is the villagers’ commitment that drives their efforts. “We, from the Gewog and Dzongkhag, have assisted them with greenhouse supplies and cost-sharing arrangements,” he said. “They are currently working on three acres, where they have planted crops like potatoes, onions, cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, chili, carrots, tomatoes, beans, coriander, radish, and spinach.”

He added, “While we cannot predict long-term sustainability due to climate concerns, things are progressing well so far. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to assist with seeds and saplings, but we have provided them with cost-sharing and greenhouses. Financial limitations have been a challenge, but if we secure additional funding in the future, we will make it a priority to support them further.”

Ngagay Norbu, Tshogpa of Baylamsharang Chiwog under Phuntshothang Gewog, shared that the community has been diligently working to support their village. “The Sangshingzor group has 17 members, and they have recently appointed a chairperson,” he said. “The village consists of many households, with eight households specifically focused on growing a variety of vegetables. Despite their hard work, they face challenges with wild animals, particularly wild boars and deer, which have been destroying their crops.”

Ngagay Norbu said that the villagers feel helpless as they cannot do much to prevent the damage. He further explained that while the community is doing its best to support agricultural activities, they are struggling with fencing issues. “We are requesting chain-link fencing around the village to protect the crops, estimating that the required length would be around 5 meters,” he said. “Despite these challenges, our chiwog is blessed with the ability to grow various types of vegetables, and I remain committed to doing my best for the community.”

Jamtsho, the chairperson of the group, emphasized their dedication to supporting financially struggling individuals. “One year after submitting our proposal, we are proud to supply six schools in Samdrup Choling Drungkhag with organic produce,” he said. “It has been a long journey, but we are determined to help our community by providing healthy food and job opportunities.”

Jamtsho spoke about the challenges the group faced in reaching this milestone. “There were moments when we doubted whether we could make this happen. Securing approval and organizing logistics was not easy, but we never lost sight of our goal.”

Jamtsho is optimistic about the group’s future. “We will continue to grow and expand, ensuring that we support our people and create lasting positive change,” he said. The group also plans to introduce part-time employment opportunities for students, helping them earn while learning valuable agricultural skills.

The Sangshingzor Vegetable Group has been working tirelessly to provide organic produce to schools and create sustainable livelihoods for local families. Despite setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group remains committed to expanding its efforts.

Sherab Dorji, Thuemi of the Sangshingzor Vegetable Group, highlighted a key issue that the eastern region of Bhutan has faced. “In the eastern part of our country, we were experiencing a shortage of potatoes, and we had to bring them all the way from Bumthang,” he said. “Now, with our initiative, we are supplying fresh vegetables to schools, and the students benefiting from this are over 4,000.”

Sherab Dorji is also taking the lead in expanding the group’s agricultural capacity. “We currently have 3 acres of land under cultivation. If everything goes well, we are planning to install chain-link fencing to protect our crops. For water supply, the gewog and our secretary are working on a solution,” he shared.

Despite the progress, the group is still assessing the land’s long-term viability. “For now, things are going well because the soil is new, but we still need to see if it will remain suitable for farming in the long run,” Sherab Dorji explained. “In the meantime, we are engaged in different kinds of work to make the best use of available resources.”

The initiative is also helping reduce reliance on imported vegetables. “Since we are located near the border, villagers often purchase vegetables from India. But now, with our farming efforts, we have a good place to cultivate our own vegetables, and this year, we have been successful,” Dorji said.

The Sangshingzor Vegetable Group continues to work hard to meet growing demand while contributing to Bhutan’s food security. “When there is more demand, supply increases, and we are doing our best to ensure sustainability. Our goal is not just to benefit ourselves but to help our country as well,” Dorji stated. He mentioned a key member of the local vegetable supply group who emphasized the importance of providing organic nutrients to children from the basic education stage, noting that most vegetables currently supplied to students come from foreign vendors and are not purely organic. “Consuming such produce could have adverse effects on students’ health,” he expressed.

With the launch of this initiative, the import of vegetables is expected to decrease significantly, strengthening the local economy while ensuring access to fresh, organic produce. The group’s primary objective is to supply locally grown vegetables that will benefit not only schools but also the country as a whole. Additionally, this initiative aims to encourage self-sufficiency among residents, reducing dependency on imports.

“Many people are unaware of the government’s efforts to support self-sufficiency in remote areas. The government has been working tirelessly to ensure that even the communities situated on the outskirts receive attention and assistance,” he said. “The initiative is receiving government support on a cost-sharing basis, which has played a crucial role in its progress.”

Looking ahead, the group has plans to expand cultivation to three acres if they can secure a loan, allowing them to increase production and further contribute to the local food supply. Their expansion strategy aligns with the broader goal of achieving food security and promoting organic farming in the region.

Rinchen Wangdi, the secretary of the group, highlighted their journey over the past five years. “We have been working for five years, and we can work even harder,” he said. “Today, we have 17 members, and we supply six schools. However, because of COVID-19, we couldn’t work for a while, which was a major challenge. But there are many benefits to what we do, and we are determined to continue.”

Rinchen Wangdi elaborated on the struggles they faced during the pandemic. “Many of our members depend on this work for their livelihood. When we had to stop, it was difficult for them. Some had to find alternative jobs, and others faced financial hardship. But now that things are back to normal, we are rebuilding stronger than before.”

A local farmer and member of the group shared their experience: “Being part of this initiative has changed my life. Before, we struggled to find a steady income, but now we have a reliable source of work. Seeing our produce help school children is also very rewarding.”

A school principal who receives the group’s supplies also praised the initiative. “The fresh vegetables have improved the quality of meals we serve our students. It’s reassuring to know that the food we provide is healthy and locally sourced.”

Looking ahead, Rinchen Wangdi is optimistic about the group’s future. “We are not stopping here. Our goal is to expand, involve more farmers, and create even more opportunities for young people,” he said. “We also want to encourage students to take up part-time work with us, so they learn valuable agricultural skills while earning some income.”

The Sangshingzor Vegetable Group has made significant progress in strengthening local agriculture, ensuring food security, and reducing dependency on imported produce. With over 3 acres under cultivation, the group is committed to expanding its operations through initiatives like chain-link fencing and improved water supply. Despite challenges, their hard work has already yielded success, benefiting schools and communities in the eastern region. As they
continue to innovate and grow, the group remains dedicated to creating a sustainable agricultural future for country.